Monday, January 30, 2006
Property tussle just a snapshot of bigger issue
Monday, January 30, 2006
Just across the Willamette from West Linn, in the historic little riverfront community of Canemah, there's a guy with a new dormer on the front of his old house.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Just across the Willamette from West Linn, in the historic little riverfront community of Canemah, there's a guy with a new dormer on the front of his old house.
Andy Parker likes government.
Government knows best.
Andy Parker trusts government.
Government provides for the common good - painful as it sometimes is for them.
Andy Parker praises the brave, self-righteous Oregon City council and Historic Review Board.
Protectors of all that they, in their wisdom, have ordained is fitting in the Canemah Historic District.
In his column in Monday's Oregonian, The owlish Andy Parker makes the case.
It starts with a story about a frustrated homeowner's (R. Hunter Leigh) travails at the mercy an agenda driven review board. The board consisted of members appointed by the mayor: Architect, remodeler, neighborhood activist, etc.; the usual suspects. The board, piqued because Leigh did not apply for permits, "reviews" Leigh's application, rejects the staff recommendation to allow (with conditions) the homeowner to proceed with repairs/remodeling, and tells Leigh to start over.
Using this anecdote as a springboard, and with a strange side trip to the unrelated subject of population density, which has no bearing on this story, Parker finally gets to his real subject; the need for governments to guide us poor, benighted souls - along with a couple of gratuitous shots at those not quite so enamored of the process.
"The odd thing is that in Oregon, as population growth, land-use laws and building restrictions shove us all closer together, you can imagine Hunter becoming a martyr, a property rights hero."
Huh? The guy is a personal friend? I thought his last name was Leigh.
Hey, the guy didn't get permits. That means he's a hero? To whom?
Oh, I see, he's a hero to all of us lawless terrorists who believe in property rights. Subtle, Andy
"Regulating uses of private property has never come without fights in this country. But zoning lines have to be drawn, rules and laws passed."
Translation: "Well, them injuns may not like it, but we're here to stay, so they'll just have to get used to it."
One of the reasons for the "fights" is that regulation has always been arbitrary, capricious and top-down. Frequently, the regulators have some personal "stake" in the process, either directly or indirectly. (Check the makeup of the OC Historic Review Board, for instance)
"But the city's hardest work in Canemah, like that of planners across the county, lies ahead as our area absorbs hundreds of thousands of newcomers.
The best of our elected officials understand that governing frequently comes down to the largely thankless work of doing not what's best for any one individual, but for the greater good."
The best of our elected officials understand that governing frequently comes down to the largely thankless work of doing not what's best for any one individual, but for the greater good."
Ah, the "greater good" now it makes sense. The true heroes and Parker's true colors are revealed at last.
"Maybe Leigh's right. Maybe the rules should be more flexible. Maybe he should be more flexible.
Either way, the work Leigh's done on his property is of great benefit to the community.
Almost as great as the work city officials have done."
With a condescending pat on the back, Parker dismisses the efforts of the homeowner as well-intentioned but meaningless in comparison with the "heavy lifting" of the enlightened ones in government.
Just so we know where you're comin' from, good buddy.
